Improved basket



UNITED 'Smyrna PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVED BASKET.

Speeication forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,595, dated July 4, 1865.

To all whom 'it ana/y concern: y

Be it known that I, THERON. R. SHERRY, of the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Baskets; and l hereby declare the following to be afull and exact description ofthe same,reference being hadto the drawings vaccompanying this specification, and which make part of the same.

The nature ot' my improvement consists in constructing the basket in parts and so joining those parts that when the basket-is not in use it can beolded together convenient for earria ge or storage.

In the draWings,Figure 1 shows a basket set up for use; Fig. 2, the same basket folded together. Fig. 3V shows a peach-basket; Fig. 4, the same folded. Fig. 5 is the bottom of the same.

The sides, ends, bottoms, and lids, if lids are required, are made of any ordinary basket material. There can be Wire frames covered with canvas, wiekers, or splints, as may be preferred, forvarious uses, or be frames of wicker or cane. Market baskets have their sides and ends joined to the bottom inthe ordinary manner in which basket-makers loop Vtheir work together, with the material of which the basket is made,

and are held in shape Ifor use by the hooks a at the corners and by the handle, which is held inV place by the spring-hooks c on the sides ot' the basket. The handle, bein g hinged to the bottom atf, turns down when the basket isfolded.

In vegetable or peach basketsthe square or the more convenient hexagonal form can be used, all thejoints but one being secured with permanent hinges, as at b, Fig. 3, and the one by hooks or straps, as at e. The bottom can be of one piece separate from the sides, or in sections hinged to the lower end of the sides, as at g, Fig. 4, the points entering between the two plates h, (the upper one alone being shoWn,)y

that are fast to one of the sections. By these means pocket dinner-baskets can be made that, when empty, need not be carried by hand. Peach and vegetable baskets can be more eon- Veniently carried when empty and stored in less room when not in use.

What I claim, and desire to secure, is

Folding baskets constructed inthe manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

THERON R. SHERRY. 

